This book is great because it covers various diverse areas in Roman life. It describes how the Romans had orgies, ate, cooked, drank, fought, worshiped, seduced each other, cheated on their partners, attended games, voted, made money, treated their slaves, accused others in court, defended themselves from accusers, cursed their enemies, praised gladiators, respected their ancestors, married, divorced, adopted, wrote, watched plays, studied in school, et cetera, et cetera... This book is by no means another lengthy discussion on the social history of Rome. Instead it's made up of short introductions by the author and numerous original excerpts from ancient time with plenty of footnotes for better understanding. And many of the excerpts are quite juicy and funny. A good toolbook for both serious historians and leisure readers.

An extraordinary book, it alternates concise, cogent discussions of every aspect of Roman life with equally concise, cogent and elegantly translated short selections from Roman sources that illuminate the topic, serving both as a window on the lives of the Romans and as a comprehensive introduction to the wealth of Roman literature and documents that have survived. I was always entertained and often surprised and moved by the insights the book offered into Roman attitudes about government, religion, family life, economic striving, military affairs, and much, much more. Ranging from the laments of dramatists about the short attention spans of their audiences to the complaints of neighbors about the noise of early morning classes for school children, the book is so comprehensive - and Rome has so pervasively influenced our lives today - that a selection even explains why for over two thousand years grooms have traditionally carried their brides across the threshold.

Students may not always like reading the primary sources, but the organization of this collection makes it easy to assign relevant text and skip the unnecessary materials. A good why to expose the class to the ancient's view of themselves without overwhelming them with reading. Best if used in conjunction with a good solid historical explaination of Roman life and history.

IF YOU FEEL TRAPPED AND CONFUSED..........READ THIS BOOK.............I GIVE 10 COPIES OF THIS BOOK AWAY A YEAR.....YOU WILL NEVER SEE THINGS QUITE THE SAME AFTER READING THIS BOOK. FIRE YOUR SHRINK.....NO MORE PROZAC..................R J

Read this book, or any book by Tony De Mello, if you are interested in really waking up. If the shockingly simple wisdom doesn't do it, or the perplexing little unexpected twists don't do it, be assured that you will probably wake yourself up with your own laughter.

I am a big believer that medicine does not have to taste bad to be good, and Awakening is the perfect example of this.

Thom Rutledge
author of Embracing Fear

I loved this book. DeMello's insights and the way he writes will be enjoyed and re-read by anyone who has ever asked a spiritual question or wanted to know what 'Awake' really means.

My grandfather was in Earling at the time of this exorcism. He was a very devout Catholic and I remember as a child listening to him tell of this event. Of course he didn't actually see the exorcism, but he heard it and smelled it. He said the stench that drifted from the convent was the most horrible odor you could imagine and the people could hear the terrible language that the possessed woman screamed. This was a terrifying event for the people who lived in that town. If you have doubts that the devil exists, hopefully you will begin to believe and live accordingly!

BEGONE SATAN. Rev. Carl Vogl. 44pp. PB., Impr. Famous 23 day long exorcism case of Erling, Iowa. Incredible and frightening. We have received several letters from Iowa verifying that this exorcism really occurred. Probably the most famous exorcism ever performed in the USA.

To know of the tricks of the devil, this book will reveal many of his ploys.

When the hustle and bustle of living in Silicon Valley becomes overwhelming, I reach for this book. Fr. Schmitmeyer's essays give me a feeling of peace and tranquiliity. His skillful writing style grabs and holds my imagination. I never tire of his sensitive descriptions of life in North Star and Osgood. This historic region of our country is his ancestral homeland and he gives enormous insight into the lives of its wise and spirited people. This book is a tribute to them and to the rare sense of community they have created. A Calendar of Care gives me a vivid image of what life is now like in these two neighboring towns. This is one priest who is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He works alongside his human and animal flock, literally. He isn't afraid to speak out and teach others about unjust agricultural practices. His essay, "Harvest Prophets", is pure genius. It digs straight to the core of the current trend towards rural nostalgia and offers a unique perspective on it. Fr. Schmitmeyer writes, "...abandoned homesteads make me ask disturbing questions, such as 'who lived here?' and 'why did they leave?' " He educated me about the dismal outlook for the future of family farming in the United States. He made me aware of how all of us are affected by how our food is produced. He writes, "The biblical wisdom that says that the way we treat the land determines how we treat one another, is again proving itself true in our culture of ultra-efficiency and social decline." Profound observations abound in this book. Fr. Schmitmeyer has the uncanny ability to even confront mortal violence head-on. He gives a powerful account of the worst form of man's inhumaity to man and yet in spite of the madness, he gently provided a sense of stabilty and resolve for this reader. His description of current unjust agricultural trends prompted me to write to my elected officials and to newspapers to voice my concern about this moral issue that affects all of us. (The problem is "concentration," where too few businesses control the market, and it is also the reason gasoline prices in California are the highest in the country.) In this sense, Fr. Schmitmeyer's care is far-reaching. A Calendar of Care transcends a reader's religious denomination and geographic location. I highly recommend this book for everyone. It's a must read!.

In 1988 Fr. James Schmitmeyer, an American priest in the archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, left a faculty position at a graduate school of theology to take on the responsibilities of two rural parishes and a small farm. A Calendar of Care is an affecting collection of stories that attempt to "capture the grace" he has experienced in this new work. He clearly loves the communities of North Star and Osgood with a love only a man who has spent considerable time in academia can have. "Instead of attending symposiums on globalism, I now go square dancing at weddings, get sunburned in the fields and bless rosaries and animals and seeds." For Fr. Schmitmeyer, Christianity is about real things. It is about the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection. It is also about parades, processions, grandmothers in shawls, old barns, oddly shaped trees, carpentry, sheep and square dances. For him, it seems, there is little division between his faith and his daily life and his work. In everyday and ordinary things he notices glimmers of the sacred and holy. And while there is this joy and peace there is also sadness in these tales. "There was a time when people in towns like mine were secure and prosperous." In America (and even more so in England) farm and family based communities are endangered by economic forces that militate against the small scale. "The Goliaths of agribusiness and food production industries would make even the stones in David's hands glisten with sweat." His own parishioners have sometimes had to make difficult choices in the face of threatening competition. Some have followed current trends by expanding their farming operations. Others have been forced to seek demanding work in the neighboring cities. There are also painful stories of the deaths of loved ones and the prayerful and compassionate response made by parishioners. For Fr. Schmitmeyer, the choice to become a country pastor was not a paranoid flight from modernity or a romantic hearkening back to bygone days. Rather, it was a choice to put himself in a setting in which life takes on more healthy and also more demanding aspects. It was really (it seems to this scribbler halfway across the world) a choice for greater service and self-giving. Cynicism and selfishness got you down? Put on a cowboy hat and pick up A Calendar of Care.

This poetic and vividly written book is a gift to all people of faith. For those who are involved in ministering to rural people, you can find a connection in Father Schmitmeyer's experiences. For those rural people, it can give you a sense of how important you are in today's world, and for those who aren't directly involved with rural life, this book will give you an understanding of what life is like out there. This book was exactly what I needed. In it I found a connection I have been searching for, namely: another heart concerned for the people and places which surround it. I am a seminarian studying for the Diocese of La Crosse, WI and I am a farmer at heart like Father Schmitmeyer. In my recent studies of rural life, I have been getting disheartened. Reading this book re-enkindled the passion I have for the family farm and sustainable agriculture. I had the opportunity to meet Fr. Schmitmeyer at the recent National Catholic Rural Life Conference Annual Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, where he was a keynote speaker. I was able to get to know Father Schmitmeyer there, but in this book I was able to understand why he is a priest in rural Ohio.

Reading this book was one of my first steps in the direction of the Catholic Church. Growing up, I had always heard vague disapproval of the Catholic Church; lots of unspecific allusions to Mary-worship, "working your way to heaven", etc. Reading this book, however, lifted the veil and revealed the beauty, depth and truth that is the Catholic faith. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to lay aside preconceived biases and begin an open-minded examination of the Catholic faith. I'm confident that in so doing you will be surprised by truth.

This book 9is a very valuable and useful guide to what the Catholic Church ACTUALLY teaches, rather than what her more vocal opponents would like us to THINK she teaches. It adds "muscle" to the "skeleton" of the Catechism. I would certainly recommend this book for RCIA classes.

Most people will find plowing through the Catechism of the Catholic Church a hardy task. Professor Kreeft comes to the rescue presenting the material faithfully but in his usual light and compact way. A great reference tool!

As a lifelong Catholic, there are many areas of our faith that I accepted without fully knowing how and why they came to be. Reading this book has given me a new insight into the richness of our traditions and their basis. I have a deeper appreciation of the sacraments, the seasons of the church and the practices that surround them. I especially liked the review of the liturgical year, and I can see myself using this book to follow the Church calendar as an aid in spiritual growth. In short, a great book for Catholics who want to know why we do what we do.

I thoroughly enjoyed Regis's book. I have both this book and his "How To" book on Catholic Devotions in my office. It is a life saver when co-workers ask me questions about my faith and I can provide a clear and accurate answer to thier questions. Also, my two daughters have found simple explanations to questions they have, especially with regard to the seasons of the liturgical year and the sacraments of our faith. God Bless you Regis, keep up the good work.

As a 5th grade religous educator, I found this book extremely helpful. My class concentrates on the sacraments and Catholic Customs is a great resource. It is also a great source for all about the life of the Church. It will answers those questions of why certain Catholic tranditions exist. It definately gives all a fresh look at our Catholic faith.

The stories about sexual abuse by Catholic priests are still making headlines. As a Catholic, I am horrified by these news stories. Every time I read them, I ask myself why, how could this happen? Then a few months ago I received a manuscript in the mail from a Catholic theologian who had tackled this question directly and thoughtfully. I am the editor of Paraview Publishing and Eileen Flynn's manuscript answered the questions I had been asking myself ever since the crisis broke in 2002. Flynn's crystal clear analysis of the situation uncovers the underlying causes of the crisis: the inflexibility of Catholic sexual ethics, the theological issues of responsibility, and the reality of a dysfunctional institution. If you'll look at the "Editorial Reviews" section of this book page, you'll see that knowledgeable people agree that Flynn has hit the nail on the head. Frankly, it would all be quite depressing if not for the fact that Flynn is also able to offer a "cure," a way for the laity and the Church to work together, address the underlying problems, and finally set things straight.

Using a format of Stop, Look and Listen, Dr. Flynn offers an excellent analysis of the crisis in the Church.
Most importantly, Catholics at the Crossroads outlines concrete changes that must be made for the Church to recover its health and credibility.

Using the format of stop, look and listen, Dr. Flynn offers an excellent analysis of the crisis in the Church.
Most importantly, Catholics at the Crossroads outlines concrete changes that must be made for the Church to recover its health and credibility

Was it the foolishness, unkindness, or evil of some human being that drove you from the Catholic Church, or which keeps you from exploring membership in her? You need not let a mere mortal keep you from the Lord and the Church He founded! Lorene Hanley Duquin addresses so many of the painful issues that keep us from reclaiming our birthright as Christians. This book is a faithful witness to the Truth of Catholicism even as it admits the flaws of some Catholics. You may find your very situation in its pages. It is an invitation to forgiveness and understanding that heals the wounded heart and the troubled mind.

As regards the author of this precious little book, the proof of the pudding is in the making. Lorene Hanley Duquin is half of "The Duquins" (she a revert, he a convert). They are tireless on behalf of the Church. Her book grows out of and complements Lorene's and her husband's own experiences and their work in "Come Home" programs in the Diocese of Buffalo, NY (one of which I had the good fortune to attend). Their most important work is heading and raising a faithful Catholic family, and one of their children is studying for the priesthood.

Don't choose to remain outside the Catholic Church until you've read this book!

We use this book for an outreach program for Catholics interested in returning to an active life in the Church. We have not found a better book. It is wonderfully compassionate. It seems to crawl right inside the hearts and minds of the people we meet. At the same time, it does not hide a truthful presentation of what the Church is about. It's a fabulously well balanced, well written book to help those interested in returning and to help those who want to understand the struggles of those contemplating a return to the Church.

This book provided many answers to questions I've had as I've researched my Catholic faith. In my college years and for some time after, I lived as a distant Catholic--not because I had bad experiences, but because I didn't understand or know the Church's position on many issues. This book was a great start. I quickly found I was hanging up on erroneous, mainstream perceptions that really weren't Catholic beliefs/teachings. Through this book and many others, I've come to embrace the course set by Vatican II, and find myself much closer to the Church and her mission. My mom, steeped in a pre-Vatican II upbringing, read the book and has since bought three for her Catholic friends. I'm buying another two for her tonight. This book is recommended for those lurking Catholics like myself lost on the perimeter for whatever reason.

Very helpful for devout Catholics, returning fallen-away Catholics, and for anyone interested in understanding the Catholic religious tradition. I especially like the biblical references that show the scriptural source of the sacrements and religious practices. This book will answer any questions you have about the Catholic tradition. The only reservation I have is that there are no answers given to the questions at the end of each lesson. Other than that, it's a great resource.

This book was recommended to me by my Spiritual Confessor as a book to be studied on a daily basis. He said that is should be well understood and memorized. What I really love about this book is that it's question and answer format along with commentary and Scriptural references makes our Catholic Traditions easily understandable. Since it is a question and answer format I can also take a couple of questions a day and memorize them. This is an ideal book for New Catholics as well as Cradle Catholics. This is a great investment for the price.

A previous "reviewer" obviously has never seen this book since it is not intended for use with children. It is clearly aimed at young adults who already have an understanding of the basic truths of the Catholic faith. These catechisms are styled after Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae, which is universally recognized as one of the greatest philosphical and theological works ever! For those wanting an introduction to the Catholic religion, I would suggest the first book in this series, which is geared to children and catechumens.

This is one of the most satisfying, uplifting, and encouraging devotion books I've read in many years. It's thought-provoking without being 'preachy'. I love the way the chapters are set up and the quotes included in each chapter are awesome.

And we can all relate to the cup as a metaphor for our lives...whether empty, full, overflowing or even cracked! I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a devotion book that really relates to everyday life.....you won't be disappointed.

In The Cup of Our Life, Joyce Rupp, OSM, offers practical suggestions and meaningful content to aide the spiritual pilgrim in developing a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. Once again, she draws on her own lived experience in offering insight, prayer practices, and meditations that will help the reader connect the routine of her/his life to a growing communion with a loving God.

Organized on a daily basis, Rupp's book encourages the reader to use an ordinary cup (or mug) to invite God more closely into one's pain, suffering, joys, hopes and struggles. She explores six major themes in the spiritual life, each one followed by prayer suggestions including litanies, creative writing, ideas for reflection and journal-keeping, and a celebratory ritual. Throughout, the author manifests a profound trust in the transformative power of the in-dwelling God, and in the dailiness of God's presence with all those who seek with a genuine heart.

Rupp's style is informal, accessible, poetic and, at times, profoundly moving. She is a fine writer and spiritual guide, sharing her experiential insights with great freedom, clarity and lyric simplicity. This is a book I have returned to more than once for its prayerful sensitivity, poetic language and wisdom. I recommend it highly.

I have been following Joyce Rupp for 6 years now. I was grieving a great loss when I stumbled upon "Praying Our Goodbyes". Since then, I have obtained all of her books. I feel that anytime I can read her books is just a blessing. I feel that The Cup Of Our Life slowly opens up our hearts to the treaures that lie within. I can't say enough about this book and the author.

Carym@tellink.net